Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks, there are a few that run afoul of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officers. Periodically, the DNR provides a report of some of the miscreants the Conservation Officers (CO) have encountered. The News-Herald shares these stories as a reminder to all to be safe and to follow the rules!
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the past week checking trout anglers in the BWCA. Anglers who ventured through the slush were rewarded with some nice lake trout in the bag. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area trails by snowmobile. Trails are in rough condition due to lack of snow and heavy use. Manning also worked a BWCA detail with CO Wahlstrom and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Belmore checking anglers and campers on backcountry lakes. She also took a report of a dog killing a grouse.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) took to his skis and patrolled many backcountry lakes throughout the station. Although walleyes were not cooperative, anglers settled for some nice perch. Hill also spoke to people angling and spearing for pike. Some nice fish were seen on the ice, including a few approaching the 30-inch mark. Caution is still needed on the ice as Hill located multiple springs in the middle of lakes with otherwise very solid ice. If attention is not paid to your surroundings or if you are traveling in the dark, these holes could prove hazardous. Snowmobile activity is ramping up as January continues on, but snow is needed to give the trail some insurance. People behaved this past week as no violations were seen.
CO Vincent Brown (Northome) checked ice anglers on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, unattended fishing lines, fishing with extra lines, and possession of fully dressed fish on special regulation waters. Illegally taken fish were seized. Brown also freed a dog from a foothold trap and issued a deer-possession permit.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent time on snowmobile patrolling area trails and lakes. Slush on the ice continued to be a problem for ice anglers and most lake ice was still too thin to support cars and pickup trucks. While snowmobiling toward what looked like three anglers on one warmer afternoon, what looked like anglers turned out to be snowmen dressed up in hats and jackets and holding fishing poles. Not too far away, fishing out of a portable shelter, a group of youngsters was found having an awfully good time after having watched the game warden attempt to check their fishing snowmen.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) primarily spent time on fishing and trapping activity. Lakes continue to be busy with a mixed bag of success. With all the activity, a lot of garbage has been seen left on area lakes. Clean up after yourselves!
CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) worked mainly snowmobile and angling enforcement. Brown wants to remind everyone to be sure there are shelter tags on your permanent fish houses, as well as on portable fish houses that are left unattended. Check the regulations book for details. Enforcement action this past week included no snowmobile safety certificate, no fishing license in personal possession, and littering.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. Several vehicles and recreational vehicles have gone through the ice in the area and she would like to urge anglers to pay attention to the ice conditions, especially during this stretch of warmer weather. Reminder to use caution or stay away from areas like culverts, springs, and ice heaves. Minnow permits and car-killed deer possession tags were issued. Violations for the week included angling without a license in possession, angling without a license, operating an unregistered ATV, unmarked fish house, failure to display shelter tag, operating without current registration (snowmobile), angling with extra lines, failure to display ATV registration, and angling with unattended lines.
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